Rotary engine.



No. 753,763. PATENTED MAR; 1', 1904.

P. P. & B. P. UHRIG. v

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1903. N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET1.

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No. 753.763. PATENTED MAR. 1 1904.

F. P. 8: B. F. UHRIG.

' ROTARY ENGINE.

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ROTARY ENGINE. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 22, 1903.

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PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK PHILLIP UHRIG AND BENJIMAN FRANKLIN UHRIG, OF

' ST. JOHNS, OREGON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

EPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,763, dated March 1,1904.

Application filed July 22,1903. SerialNo.166,547. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that W6,'FREDERIOK PHILLIP UHRIG and BENJIMAN FRANKL NUHRIG, both citizens of the United States, and residents of St. Johns,in the county of Multnomah and- State of Oregon, have invented a new andImproved Rotary Engine, of which the follow tage without danger of backpressure and to permit convenient and quick reversing of the enginewhenever it is desired to do so. I

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointedout in the claims.

' A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews. I

Figure'l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the improvement on theline 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 3 is anend view of the same, showing more particularly the gear for operatingthe admission and exhaust valves. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View of theimprovement on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of thepiston and its connection with the main shaft, and Fig. 6 is aperspective view of one of the admission and exhaust valves.

The cylindrical casing A of the engine is provided with a base A, anintegral head A and a removable head A fastened by bolts A or othermeans to the said casing. In the head A is journaled the main shaft Bfor transmitting the rotary motion of the engine to other machinery, andin the said casing A is removably secured an annular working chamberQconcentric with the shaft B and abuttingat one side against the head AIn this annular working chamber C is mounted to travel a piston D,secured at one side by bolts or other fastening devices to the annularrib E of a revolving piston-carrier E, the

. said rib E fitting into and closing an annular opening G, leading fromthe interior of the working chamber to the outer side thereof that is,the side opposite the one abutting against the head A The piston-carrierE is ring-shaped and formed at its outer face with diametrical grooves E(see Fig. 5,) engaged by correspondingly-shaped lugs F, secured orformed on the inner face of a web F, having its hub F fastened by a keyF or other means to the main shaft B, so that when the piston B iscaused to travel around in the working chamber C, as hereinafter morefully described, thenthe piston carries the carrier E around with it,and the carrier in turn takes the web F along for the web to rotate themain shaft B.

In order to prevent leakage of steam between the revolvingpiston-carrier E and the working chamber C, the rib E has beveled sidesfitting the correspondingly-shaped side 'Walls of the openings C, asplainly indicated in Figs. 1 and 4E, and on opposite sides of the rib Eare integrally formed on the carrier E annular ribs E preferably madeV-shaped and fitting corresponding grooves in the face of the workingchamber.

In order to move and hold the ribs E and E of the piston-carrier E infrictional contact with the openings C and the said grooves to preventleakage of steam, the said carrier E is engaged by bearing-balls G,arranged on an adjusting-ring G, fitted in a recess in the head A andadapted to be adjusted longitudinally toward the carrier E by set-screwsG The bearing-balls G are arranged in an annular recess formed partly inthe adjusting-ring G and partly in the piston-carrier E, as shown inFigs. 1 and I, to hold the bearing-balls in position, the saidbearing-balls valves I and I is arranged alongside the valves H and H,the latter serving as admissionvalves, while the valves I and I act asexhaustvalves; but the action of the said valves can be reversed, ashereinafter more fully described, for the valves I and I to become theadmission-valves and the valves H and H the exhaust-valves. The valves Hand H control ports a and 6, leading to an annular steamchest J, and thevalves I and I control ports 0 and (Z, leading to an annular steam-chestJ, and the said steam-chests J and J are connected by channels J and Jwith a reversing-valve K, mounted in the base portion A of the easingand provided at its outer end with a handle K, under the control of theoperator, for turning the said valve, so as to connect either channel J2 or J 3 with a steam-supply pipe L or with exhaust-pipes N and N, asplainly illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus when the valve K is in the positionshown in this figure the admission-pipe L connects with the channel Jfor the steam to enter the steam-chest J and pass from the latteralternately by way of the ports 6 and a into the working chamber C,while the exhaust-steam passes from the said workin chamber by way ofthe valves I and 1, ports d and 0, steam-chest J and reversing-valve Kinto the exhaust-pipe N. When the valve K is reversed, then the channelJ 3 is connected with the pipe L to allow the motive agent to passthrough the said channel into the steam chest J by way of the ports 0 (Zand valves I and I into the working chamber C, while the exhaust motiveagent passes by way of the valves H and H, ports a and b, steam-chest J,channel J and valve K into the exhaust-pipe N. The steam-chests J and Jare preferably made in sections, as plainly indicated in Fig. 1, andfastened by bolts J i to the head A of the casing. The valve K is soarranged that when its handle K is thrown into a vertical position thevalve closes the supply-pipe L, so as to shut off the steam from theengine to bring the latter to a stop. Each of the valves H H I I isarranged in such a manner as to form a passage for the piston D and toform an abutment in the chamber for the steam, as will be readilyunderstood by reference to Fig. 1, and the valves H I H I, respectively.As shown in this figure, the valves H and I are open to allow the pistonD to pass the valves, while the valves H and I are in a closed positionfor the motive agent to pass from the steam-chest J by way of the port 5into the working chamber or valve H, now forming an abutment in thischamber between the piston and the valve for the motive agent to causethe piston to travel around in the direction of the arrow (4, andtheother valve, 1, on account of its position,allows the exhaust-steamin front of the piston D to pass through the port d into the steamchestJ and from the latter pass by way of the passage J 3 and valve K intothe exhaustpipe N. The valves H H and I I are successively actuated tomove into reversed position, and for this purpose the following deviceis provided: On the outer ends of the valve-stems H H 'of the valves Hand H (see Figs. 3 and 4) are secured arms 0 and O, and similar arms 0 Oare fastened on the outer ends of the valve-stems I and I of the valvesI and I, and the valve-stems O and O are connected by links 0 and O witha slide P, mounted to slide transversely in suitable guideways Q,attached to the outer face of the head A of the casing. The arms 0 O ofthe valves I and I are connected by links 0 O with a slide P, likewisemounted to slide transversely in the bearings Q, and the said slides arerectangular in shape and are engaged by cams R and R, bolted orotherwise fastened on the shaft B, so as to rotate with the latter toimpart a transverse sliding movement to the slides P and P, which bytheir links 0 O and O O impart a rocking motion to the valves H H and II, as above explained. The cams R and R are so shaped (see Fig; 3) thatthe valves which are the admission-valves at the time are actuatedsomewhat sooner than the valves which are the exhaust-valves at thetime, so as to let the motive agent into the working chamber Cimmediately behind the piston D by the admission-valve previous toopening the adjacent exhaust-valve. Thus when the piston D nears theexhaust-valve I then the valve H is moved into a closed position, whilethe valve I is moved into an open position and the valve I into a closedposition for the piston'D to pass the valves 1 and H and for the motiveagent to pass through the port aand valve H into the working chamber togive another impulse to the piston D for propelling the latter in thedirection of the arrow (0. The steam now in front of the piston D passesby way of the valve I and port 0 into the steam-chest J to be conductedby the passage J 3 and valve K into the exhaust-pipe N.

Suitable packings S are arranged between the head A and the casing, andlike packings S are arranged between the head A and the web F, asplainly indicated in Fig. 1. Asuitable drain-cock T, arranged in thehead A allows of draining the water of condensation from thesteam-chests, into which may also pass the water of condensation in theworking chamber by the action of the piston D driving the water throughthe corresponding ports into the said steam-chests.

When it is desired to remove the working chamber C from the casing A,the screws A are unscrewed and the screws A in the head A. are screwedup to dislodge the working chamber in the casing.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. A rotary engine comprising an annular fixedWorking chamber, having an annular opening at one side, a piston mountedto travel in the said working chamber, a revoluble piston-carrier havingan annular closing-rib fitting the opening in the side of the saidworking chamber, the said piston being secured to the said rib, andvalves for controlling the admission andexhaust of the motive agent toand from the said working chamber, the valves also serving as abutmentsfor the motive agent in the said working chamber, as set forth.

2. A rotary engine comprising an annular fixed working chamber, havingan annular opening at one side, a piston mounted to travel in the saidworking chamber, a revoluble piston-carrier having an annularclosing-rib fitting the opening in the side of the said Working chamber,the said piston being secured to the said rib, the said carrier having aplurality of annular packing-ribs on opposite sides of the saidclosing-rib, for engaging corresponding annular grooves on the side ofthe working chamber having the opening, and valves for controlling theadmission and exhaust of the motive agent to and from the said workingchamber, the valves also serving as abutments for the motive agent inthe said working chamber, as set forth.

3. A rotary engine comprising an annular fixed Working chamber, havingan annular opening at one side, a piston mounted to travel in the saidworking chamber, a revoluble piston-carrier having an annularclosing-rib fitting the opening in the side of the said working chamber,the said piston being secured to the said rib, the said carrier having aplurality of annular packing-ribs on opposite sides of the saidclosing-rib, for engaging corresponding annular grooves on the side ofthe working chamber having the opening, means for adjusting the carrierin the direction of its axis toward the Working chamber, and valves forcontrolling the admission and exhaust of the motive agent to and fromthe said work-' ing chamber, the valves also serving as abutments forthe motive agent in the said working chamber, as set forth.

4. A rotary engine comprising an annular fixed working chamber, havingan annular opening at one side, a piston mounted to travel in the saidWorking chamber, a revoluble piston-carrier having an annularclosing-rib fitting the opening in the side of the said working chamber,the said piston being secured to the said rib, a power-transmitting websecured to the shaft to be driven and carried around by the saidcarrier, and valves'for controlling the admission and exhaust of themotive agent to and from the said working chamber, the valves alsoserving as abutments for the motive agent in the said working chamber,as set forth.

5. A rotary engine comprising an annular fixed working chamber, havingan annular opening at one side, a piston mounted to travel in the saidWorking chamber, a revolublepiston-carrier having an annular closing-ribfitting the-opening in the side of the said working chamber, the saidpiston being secured to the said rib, a web secured to the shaft to bedriven and having oifsets engaging diametrical grooves in the saidcarrier, and valves for controlling the admission and exhaust of themotive agent to and from the said working chamber, the valves alsoserving as abutments for the motive agent in the said working chamber,as set forth.

6. A rotary engine comprising an annular fixed working chamber, havingan annular opening at one side, a piston mounted to travel in the saidworking chamber, a revoluble piston-carrier having an annularclosing-rib fitting the opening in the side of the said working chamber,the said piston being secured to the said rib, an admission-valve, anexhaustvalve in the working chamber, the admissionvalve forming anabutment for the motive agent in the working chamber, and means foractuating the said valves in unison, as set forth.

7 A rotary engine comprising an annular fixed working chamber, having anannular opening at one side, a piston mounted to travel in the saidworking chamber, a revoluble piston-carrier having an annularclosing-rib fitting the opening in the side of the said working chamber,the said piston being secured to the said rib, sets, diametricallydisposed, of admission and exhaust valves in the said working chamber,means for actuating the said valves in unison,.and a reversing-valvecontrolling the motive agent to and from the said Workingchamber, as setforth.

8. A rotary engine comprising an annular fixed Working chamber, havingan annular opening at one side, a piston mounted to travel in the saidworking chamber, a revoluble piston-carrier having an annularclosing-rib fitting the opening in the side of the said working chamber,the said piston being secured to the said rib, annular steam-chestshaving diametrically opposite inlet-ports and diametrically oppositeexhaust-ports, the said ports leading to the Working chamber, admissionand exhaust valves for controlling the said ports and for formingabutments in the Working chamber, and means for actuating the valves inunison with the said piston, as set forth.

9. A rotary engine comprising an annular fixed working chamber, havingan annular opening at one side, a piston mounted to travel in the saidworking chamber, a revoluble piston-carrier having an annularclosing-rib fitting the opening in the side of the said working chamber,the said piston being securedto the said rib, annularsteam-chests havingdiametrically opposite inlet-ports and diametrically opposite exhaustports, the said ports leading to the Working chamber, admission andexhaust valves for controlling the said ports and for forming abutmentsin the working chamber, means for actuating the valves in unison withthe said piston, and a revers ing-valve connected with a steam-supplyand controlling passages to the said annular steamchests, as set forth.

10. A rotary engine comprising an annular fixed working chamber, havingan annular opening at one side, a piston mounted to travel in the saidworking chamber, a revoluble piston-carrier having an annularclosing-rib fitting the opening in the side of the said working chamber,the said piston being secured to the said rib, annular steam-chestshaving diametrically opposite inlet-ports and diametrically oppositeexhaust-ports, the said ports leading to the working chamber, admissionand exhaust valves for controlling the said

